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Topic: Teachers (07/12/04)
TITLE: You Might Be Surprised, If... By Martha Currington 07/19/04 |
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For instance, my seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Kingsley, didn’t seem to be anyone’s favorite. She was an older woman with graying black hair. She didn’t have much to say to the students that didn’t pertain to classroom assignments.
However, there was one thing she spoke about with all sincerity.
“Man is going to the moon one day and I have a ticket!”
When word got around in school , it was whispered that she was crazy. Now, this was in 1957. It certainly wasn’t on the news nor taught in school. Nevertheless, Mrs. Kingsley held firm to her statement. I don’t think that she was ever aware of the “whispers”.
In the eight grade I won the school spelling bee. I got a new orange- colored dress to wear to the county competition. Mrs. Kingsley was the sponsor selected to take the winner to the courthouse for the county spelling bee.
Before we got to the courthouse house, she asked, “Are you hungry?”
We had left school before lunch break. I was a little hungry(and very nervous) so I replied, “Yes, I am.”
“We’ll go by my house first. We have plenty of time. I’ll make us each a sandwich.”
She lived in a big green house upon a hilltop. I’d never seen such a big well-kept lawn .
She opened the front door and invited me inside. We went straight to the kitchen. I washed my hands while she made our sandwiches. She gave me a mayonnaise and cheese sandwich with cheese as orange as my new dress!
“Would you like a glass of milk?”
“Yes, thank you.”
After I ate lunch with Mrs. Kingsley, I wasn’t as nervous.
Later, at the courthouse, I won second place in the spelling bee. I was somewhat disappointed. This was the last year that I could be in the competition.
“I’m very proud of you.” Mrs. Kingsley said. “You did very well, winning first place at school, and second place here.”
With that encouragement, I felt proud myself. And I realized just what a nice person she really was, not crazy at all!
So, with this story in mind, consider your teachers who aren’t the “favorites”. You might be surprised if...you give them a second chance. Try to get better acquainted on an individual basis at school and keep an open mind. You just might discover a “hidden treasure”.
It really is true, as the old saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover”. Nor can you rightfully judge a teacher based just on popularity status.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.(words of Jesus)KJV
(teacher’s name changed)
Copyright 2004 Martha J. Currington
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